Filling heads for liquid containers

ABSTRACT

A filling head, particularly for liquefied gas cartridges, comprises a body adapted to extend downwardly into the container to be filled, and a base adjustable in position on the body to rest on the upper edge of the container. The body has an inflatable peripheral gasket to form a seal against the inner wall of the container, a liquid inlet conduit with pneumatically actuated valve means, and an exhaust passage formed with a vertical bore enclosing with a small clearance a slidable pistonlike member. When the head is raised by a container on an automatic filling machine, the valve means are opened and after a short while the gasket is inflated, this delay permitting free escape of the burst of gas which appears when the cold liquid contacts the relatively hot container wall, without the said burst actuating the piston-like member. During the subsequent filling operation air and gas may freely flow through the exhaust passage at a moderate velocity without noticeably actuating said member, but when the container is filled, the liquid flowing through said passages raises said member, which causes closing of the valve means.

United States Patent Remane 1541 FILLING HEADS FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS[72] Inventor: Roger Remane, Sainte-Colombe- Les-Vienne, France [73]Assignee: Application Des Gaz, Paris, France 22 Filed: Feb. 6, 1970 [21]Appl.No.: 9,321

521 u.s.c1. ..141/59,137/386, 14l/62, 141/141,141/193, 141/287, 141/36851 Int. Cl. ..B6Sb 3/30 [58] Field of Search ..141/39, 40, 46, 59, 62,192, 141/198, 275, 276, 284, 286-288, 291, 292, 296,301, 303, 307, 368,140, 141, 160;

Vergobbi ..141/198 X 1 Aug. 15, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS-OR APPLICATIONS983,326 2/1965 GreatBritain ..141/39 Primary Examiner-Edward J. EarlsAttorney-Alexander & Dowell [57] ABSTRACT A filling head, particularlyfor liquefied gas cartridges, comprises a body adapted to extenddownwardly into the container to be filled, and a base adjustable inposition on the body to rest on the upper edge of the container. Thebody has an inflatable peripheral gasket to form a seal against theinner wall of the container, a liquid inlet conduit with pneumaticallyactuated valve means, and an exhaust passage formed with a vertical boreenclosing with a small clearance a slidable piston-like member. When thehead is raised by a container on an automatic filling machine, the

"valve means are opened and after a short while the gasket is inflated,this delay permitting free escape of the burst of gas which appears whenthe cold liquid contacts the relatively hot container wall, without thesaid burst actuating the piston-like member. During the subsequentfilling operation air and gas may freely flow through the exhaustpassage at a moderate velocity without noticeably actuating said member,

' but when the container is filledl, the liquid flowing through saidpassages raises said member, which causes closing of the valve means.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 15, 1972 3,683,976

3 SheetsSheet l 3s 5 In:

33 431a. f 1h 3 3 4m 3a 17 z INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 15, 1972 3,683,976

'5 Sheets-Sheet 3 W :1 Raw? FILLING HEADS FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Thepresent invention relates to a volumetric filling head for containers inwhich the liquid level should be maintained below the upper end of thecontainer, and it more particularly concerns canisters or cartridgeswhich are to be filled with a liquefied gas such as butane or propaneand wherein a free space should be provided above the liquid once thecartridge is closed by a generally inwardly bulging closure memberadapted to form the bottom thereof.

The filling operation is generally effected under atmospheric pressure,the liquid being maintained. at a quite low temperature. The fillinghead may comprise a base adapted to be supported by the upper edge ofthe container to be filled and ,a body which extends downwardly from thebase into the container, the

periphery of the said body carrying an inflatable gasket which in theinflated state forms a tight seal between the body and the inner wall ofthe container, and the said body having a valve through which liquid mayflow into the container and an exhaust passage through which air and gasmay escape from the container during the filling operation. Theoperating cycle of the au- .tomatic filling machine on which such afilling head is fore constitutes a marked disadvantage owing to the lossdue to the unavoidable evaporation of the low-temperature liquid underatmospheric pressure. Moreover the gas which results from thisevaporation may constitute a danger for the operators or for the plantitself, as forinstance in the case of butane and'propane which may forman explosive mixture with atmospheric air.

The object of the present invention is to provide a volumetric fillinghead wherein the excess of liquid escaping from the container at the endof the filling operation is reduced to a quite negligible value.

In accordance with the invention, in a volumetric filling head of thekind above referred to, the exhaust passage comprises a substantiallyvertical bore in which a piston is slidably disposed with a noticeableclearance, in such manner that air and gas may freely escape during thefilling operation without substantially lifting the said piston, butthat as soon as liquid begins to flow through the said exhaust passage,the said piston may be lifted to such an extent as to actuate meansadapted to close the said valve.

Under such conditions when the liquid level within the container hasreached the lower side of the body of The invention further concernsa'particular arrangement of such pneumatic relays, in order to realizean entirely automatic control of the filling head on a conventionalautomatic filling machine.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a filling head according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section thereof taken along line lI--II of FIG. 1, the partsbeing illustrated at their position before the end of the rising step ofthe container to be filled.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line IVIV of FIG. 1, but correspondingto the step wherein the container is being filled.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the pneumatic relayswhich control the operation of the filling head.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation in elevation with parts insection showing a conventional filling machine equipped with fillingheads according to this invention.

FIG. 7 is a gragmental section taken radially of the filling machine ofFIG. 6, as indicated at VII- -VII in FIG. 6.

The filling head illustrated in FIGS. I to 4 comprises a cylindricalbody 1 adapted to penetrate into the container 2 to be filled (thiscontainer being of course itself cylindrical). In order to permitaccurate adjustment of the level down to which this body may be loweredinto the container, the periphery of the said body is screwthreaded andit carries an annular nut 3 which forms a resting abutment for the upperedge of the container. This nut 3 may be locked in positionby acounter-nut 4. In the vicinity of its lower end the body 1 is formedwith an annular groove la in which is disposed a hollow inflatablegasket 5 made of an appropriate elastomeric material. As shown thisgasket has a C-shaped transverse sectional profile, the ends of the Cbeing clamped between the bottom of the groove and a ring 6 providedwith radial holes 6a (Fig. 4) which communicate with an inner groove 6bof the said ring, and this inner groove communicating in turn with aconduitlb provided in body 2. This conduit 1b opens into a cylindricalrecess 1c through which the inner space of the gasket 5 may be connectedwith an appropriate inflating source. In order to permit the mounting ofgasket 5, groove la opens downwardly, a circular plate 7 being removablyapplied against the underside of body 1 to retain gasket 5 within thesaid groove, this plate being integral with upwardly directed tubularbosses 8 which are engaged into corresponding vertical holes Id providedin body I, these bosses being internally screwthreaded to receive thelower ends of securing screws such as 9.

Body I is formed with an axial bore 1e in which is slidably mounted apiston-like member 10 to which is secured to stem 11 of a liquid valve12. This valve 12 is disposed with a substantial clearance in a centralopening of the lower plate 7 and it is applied against a seatformingseal 13 mounted in an inner groove If at the lower end of bore lie andretained in position by the lower plate 7 itself, A spring 14 isinterposed between the seal 13 and the piston-like member 10 in order tourge valve 12 against the said seat.

low temperature).

The piston-like member has an upwardly directed extension 10a on whichis applied a flexible diaphragm 15. The latter is retained againstextension 10a by a head 16 formed with a screw-threaded rod 17 whichpasses through the said diaphragm and through member 10 itself so as tobe screwed into a blind bore provided in the stem 11 of valve 12. Underthe action of spring 14 this head 16 is applied against the movablemember 18 of a small pneumatic ram 19. The latter comprises a flexiblediaphragm 20 adapted to urge member 18 downwardly. The edge of thisdiaphragm 20 is retained within the enlarged upper end'21a of acylindrical housing 21 made in two parts, the lower one clamping theedge of the diaphragm against the bottom of an annular recess of body 1.A split ring 22 retains the cover 23 of the pneumatic ram 19 within theenlarged end 21a so as to clamp the edge of diaphragm 20. The lower partof housing 21 is itself retained in position by washers 24 (FIG. 4)clamped under the sociated with the pneumatic ram 19 has been referenced27.

The body 1 of the filling head further has a conduit 1 j (FIG. 2) whichopens downwardly through a perforation 7a of the lower plate 7, anO-ring 28 being interposed between this plate and an annular recess ofbody 1. The other end of this conduit communicates with a vertical bore1k which opens on the upper side of body 1 in the form of an enlargedportion II. On this portion there is disposed a block 29 having anelbow-shaped conduit formed of an outwardly opening horizontal portion29a and of a vertical portion 29b which opens above the enlarged portionll of bore lk-ll. Screws 30 maintain block 29 in gas-tight engagementwith the upper side of body 1.

The bore lk-lll encloses a very light piston (preferably made of anappropriate plastics unaffected by low temperatures) comprising a headdisposed with a substantial clearance in the enlarged upper portion llof the bore, and a tail 31a which slides within the lower portion 1k ofthe said bore, this tail being grooved, as shown. The head 31 has anupper extension 31b adapted to act as a valve or plug for the downwardlydirected outlet of a feeler nozzle 32 axially carried by block 29.

A flat annular member 33 is freely mounted on the periphery of body 1.As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 this annular member is slidable on twovertical columns 34 secured to the revolving supporting plate of thefilling machine, each carrying a spring 35 which urges member 33downwardly. The latter rests on nuts 3 and 4 and it transmits thedownward pressure to the body 1 of the filling head.

The annular member 33 is formed with two inwardly directed teeth 36which slide in longitudinal grooves llm provided in the periphery ofbody 1, in such manner as to prevent any relative rotation between thetwo parts.

A headed gudgeon 37 is screwed in the annular member 33, and itrotatably carries a resilient blade 38 the other end of which has a plug39 adapted to cooperate with an appropriate pneumatic feeler nozzle, notshown in FIGS. 2 and 4. On the gudgeon 37 is mounted a spring 40 whichmaintains blade 38 in frictional engagement with the annular base 33.

The filling head described is normally adapted to be mounted on anautomatic filling machine of conventional type which comprises arevolving supporting plate 101 (FIGS. 6 and 7) having a number ofapertures such as indicated at 41, to receive the successive containers2 to be filled. The above-mentioned columns 34 are secured to this plateeach side of each aperture 41. The latter has a diameter which isslightly larger than the outer diameter of the upper edge of thecontainers such as 2, in order to form a guide for them. Under eachaperture 41 there is disposed a vertically movable individual support102 in the well known manner, these supports rotating with the revolvingplate and being vertically reciprocated by means of a slidable rod 103and of an appropriate stationary annular earn 104. In

the absence of a container the nut 3 of each filling head rests on therevolving plate 101 under the action of springs 35. This nut 3, togetherwith its counter-nut 4 and with the annular member 33 may therefore beconsidered as forming the base of the filling head.

In operation a container to be filled is placed on a vertically movablesupport 102 in a zone of the machine wherein these supports are at theirlowermost position. Then the container rises and its upper edge passesaround the lower portion of the body 1 of the filling head within thecorresponding aperture 41, as illustrated in FIG. 2. This edge engagesthe nut 4 and raises the latter together with the filling head itselfand with the annular base 33 against the action of springs 35. At theend of this upward displacement the plug 39 (FIGS. 2 and 7) cooperateswith the feeler nozzle (not shown in FIG. 2, but indicated at 49 inFIGS. 5 and 7) with which it is associated and it thus actuates apneumatic relay. I

As a consequence of this actuation compressed air is supplied to thepneumatic ram 19 which lowers its movable member 18 together with theliquid valve 12 (position of FIG. 4). The liquefied gas at very lowtemperature begins flowing into the container, the walls of which are ata much higher temperature. There is thus produced an explosiveevaporation of the first liquid drops and a burst of gas is evolved. Butsince the gasket 5 is not yet inflated, this gas may freely escapeoutwardly without creating any noticeable counter-pressure within thecontainer. In the embodiment illustrated the lower side of nut 4 hasbeen grooved as indicated at 3a in order to facilitate free exhaust ofthe gas.

A short while after the opening of valve 12 a delayed relay causesinflation of the gasket 5. The container 2 is now sealed in a gas-tightmanner, but the air enclosed therein may freely escape through conduit1j together with the residual gas evolved from the liquid. Since thecontainer walls are now relatively cold, the gaseous stream which flowsthrough conduit lj is quite moderate and it may escape outwardly throughthe grooves of the tail 31a of the piston 31a-3l-31b and by veryslightly lifting the head 31 thereof. The outlet 29a of the block 29 maybe connected with any appropriate apparatus, if desired.

When the container is filled, the liquid rises in conduit 1j and in thebore lk-ll. But the resistance to the flow of the liquid being moreimportant than in the case of the gas, and also the density of theliquid being much higher, the piston 31a-31-31b is lifted to a greaterex tent and its upper extension 31b is applied against the lower end ofthefeeler nozzle 32 which is thus closed. This has for its effect toactuate another pneumatic relay which connects the ram 19 to the outeratmosphere, thus closing the liquid valve 12. The flow of liquid intothe containeris stopped.

Then the support of the container begins its downward stroke togetherwith the container itself and with the filling head which rests thereon.But as soon as the plug 39 is lowered it no more actuates the relaythrough which the inflatable gasket 5 receives compressed air. Thecontainer isthus liberated from the filling head and at the end of thedownward stroke of its support, it may be removed from the machine inthe filled state, i.e., with the liquid therein rising exactly to thedesired level. The quantity of liquid which may have reached the conduit29a-29b of block 29 is quite negligible' As above indicated the fillinghead described is preferably controlled by pneumatic relays, though ofcourse any other kind of controlling means could be used, if desired. ve

FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred arrangement of pneumatic relays which hasprovided satisfactory in this respect.

The conduit 1b through which the gasket 5 is inflated is connected by aline 42 with a first pneumatic relay 43. The latter is of theconventional type, i.e., it comprises a valve member 43a which normallycloses a first conduit 43b, but which may rock in such manner as to openthis conduit while connecting it with a second conduit 43c, and to closea third conduit 43d which communicates at rest with the second conduit43c. In other words valve member 43a and conduits 43b, 43c and 43d forma three-way valve. The valve member 43a is actuated by a diaphragm 43eand by a biassing spring 43f. The diaphragm is disposed in a chamberwhich it divides into two portions respectively connected with a mainactuating inlet 43g and with an auxiliary actuating inlet 43h, thelatter being generally connected with the outer atmosphere.

The first conduit43b is connected by a line 44 with the second conduit45c of another pneumatic relay or master relay 45, the first conduit 45bof which is connected with a compressed air source 46. This source 46 isalso connected with the main actuating inlet 45g of relay 45, butthrough a calibrated orifice 47 downstream of which there is provided abranch line 48 the other end of which is connected with the feelernozzle 49 disposed above plug 39 when the filling head is at itslowermost position. The air which flows through the calibrated orifice47 may thus escape freely through nozzle 39 and the master relay 45 isnot actuated as long as the filling head is not sufiiciently raised.

The arrangement of FIG. 5 further comprises a third relay 50 the firstconduit 50b of which is connected with the line 44 while its mainactuating inlet 50g is connected with line 44 through a calibratedorifice 51. Downstream of this orifice there is provided a branch line52 the other end of which is connected with the feeler nozzle 32disposed within block 29. Here again at the position of rest nozzle 32is freely open and relay 50 is unactuated even when line 44 is underpressure. The second conduit 500 of relay 50 is connected with the thirdconduit 53d of a fourth relay 53 the first conduit 53b of which is alsoconnected with the line 44. The second conduit 53c of this relay 53 isconnected with the main actuating inlet 53 g thereof and also with themain actuating inlet 54g of a fifth relay 54. The first conduit 54b ofthe latter opens to the atmosphere, its third conduit 54d is connectedwith line 44, and its second conduit 54c is connected with the pneumaticram 19 of the filling head.

It will further be noted thatline 44 is connected with the mainactuating inlet 43g of relay 43 through a calibrated orifice 55. Finallythe third conduits 45d, 50d of relays 45 and 50 communicate with theouter atmosphere. y

In operation, when the fillinghead is at its lowermost position, themaster-relay 45 is at rest and line 44 is connected with the outeratmosphere through the third conduit 45d of this relay. The four-otherrelays are therefore at rest and the filling head receives nocompressedair. v

When the filling head is sufficiently raised by the container 2 to befilled, the plug 59 closes the corresponding feeler nozzle 49. The mainactuating inlet 45g of the master-relay 45 is therefore under pressureand this relay is actuated, whereby line 44 is supplied with air underpressure. The first relay 43 receives compressed air both into its firstconduit 43b and into its main actuating inlet 43g, but owing to thepresence of the calibrated orifice 55, its diaphragm 43:: can onlyrespond slowly to the action of the air pressure. In other words theactuation of relay 43 is somewhat delayed with respect to relay 45. itresults therefrom that compressed air will only be supplied to theinflatable gasket 5 a given time after actuation of relay 45.

Compressed air from. line 44 is also supplied to the third conduit 54dof relay 54. Since the latter is at rest, this third conduitcommunicates with its second conduit 54c which has for its result thatthe pneumatic ram 19 of the filling head receives air under pressure andopens valve 12. Since no calibrated orifice is provided here, valve 12opens immediately, before gasket 5 is inflated.

compressed air also reaches the calibrated orifice 51 but since thefeeler nozzle 32 is presently fully open, no pressure can build up inthe main actuating inlet 50g of relay 50 which remains at rest. Itsecond conduit 500 is therefore without any air pressure. The second andthird conduits 53c and 53d of relay 53 are also under atmosphericpressure as well as the actuating inlets 53g and 54g of relays 53 and54. These relays are thus at rest.

As soon as the container is filled up to the desired level, theextension 31a of the piston head 31 closes the feeler nozzle 32. Relay50 is thus actuated and compressed air flows towards the third conduit53d of relay 53; since this third conduit communicates with the secondconduit 530 of the relay, the air under pressure reaches the actuatinginlets 53g and 54g of both relays 53 and 54 which are thereforeactuated. The second conduit 540 of relay 54 thus communicates with theouter atmosphere and ram 19 is returned to its initial position by thebiassing spring of valve 12 which closes.

When the filling head begins its downward stroke, plug 39 liberates thefeeler nozzle 49 and the masterrelay 45 is therefore returned to itsposition of rest. Line 44 and calibrated orifice 51 are separated fromsource 46. Relays 50, 53 and 54 also return to their position of restand the operating cycle is terminated.

I claim:

1. In an automatic unit to control a filling head adapted to be raisedby the container to be filled, with said head having an inflatablegasket adapted to form a seal between said head and said container,normally closed valve means to control the flow of liquid into saidcontainer, and an exhaust passage provided with detecting means todetect the flow of liquid through said passage, q 4

means to open said valve means when said filling head is raised by saidcontainer;

means to cause inflation of said gasket a pre-determined time afteropening of said valve means;

and means activated by said detecting means to close said valve meanswhen liquid begins to flow through said exhaust passage. I

2. A filling head to fill from a source of liquid a substantiallycylindrical container having an open upper end defined by thesubstantially horizontal upper edge of a lateral wall having an innerside and an outer side, with valve means to control liquid flow fromsaid source, said head comprising:

a base to rest on the upper edge of said container;

a body carried by said base to extend downwardly into said container,said body having a lower portion, said body being formed with a fillingconduit having an upper inlet for connection with said source of liquidto fill said container and an inner outlet in said lower portion, andsaid body further being formed with an exhaust passage having an innerinlet in said lower portion, a substantially vertical bore and an outeroutlet;

a peripheral gasket carried by said body above the lower portion thereofto form a gas-tight seal between said body and the inner side of thelateral wall of said container below the outlet of said exhaust passage;

a piston-like member made of a material heavier than said liquid movablydisposed in the bore of the exhaust passage of said body with such aclearance that when said container is being filled, gases escaping fromsaid container through the outlet of said exhaust passage only raisesaid piston-like member to a first level, while when said container isfilled liquid flowing through said exhaust passage raises saidpiston-like member to a second level situated above said first level;

and feeler means actuated by said piston-like member when same is raisedto said second level to in turn act on said valve means to cut offliquid flow from said source into said container;

said filling head being for use on a filling machine operating bysuccessive automatic filling cycles, of

the kind comprising an apertured plate to receive the body of thefilling head and to support the base thereo, a vertically movablesupport to raise the container to be filled so as to cause the upperedge of same to pass around the body of said filling head, to engage thebase thereof and to raise said head from said apertured plate, andvertical columns to vertically guide said filling head; said baseincluding an annular plate supported by said body and non-rotatablethereon, said annular plate having perforations to slidably receive saidguiding columns;

said annular plate carrying a laterally extending resilient blade havinga free outer end;

and the outer end of said blade supporting a plug to act on a pneumaticfeeler nozzle carried by said machine when said filling head is raisedby said vertically movable support to actuate control means to initiatean automatic filling cycle of said machine.

3. In a filling head as claimed in claim 2, said body being formed witha peripheral groove to receive said gasket, with said groove having abottom of given diameter; said gasket being formed of a hollowinflatable member havingan outer diameter and an inner diameter, withsaid inner diameter being substantially equal to the diameter of thebottom of said groove, and with said inflatable member including aninner space; and said body having an inflating conduit communicatingwith the inner space of said gasket, with said inflating conduit havingan outer inlet through which fluid under pressure may be forced intosaid gasket to expand the outer diameter thereof and to apply saidgasket against the inner side of the lateral wall of said container.

4. A filling head to fill from a source of liquid 21 substantiallycylindrical container having an open upper end defined by thesubstantially horizontal upper edge of a lateral wall having an innerside and an outer side, with valve means to control liquid flow fromsaid source, said head comprising:

a base to rest on the upper edge of said container;

a body carried by said base to extend downwardly into said container,said body having a lower portion, said body being formed with a fillingconduit having an upper inlet for connection with said' source of liquidto fill said container and an inner outlet in said lower portion, andsaid body further being formed with an exhaust passage having an innerinlet in said lower portion, a substantially vertical bore and an outeroutlet;

a peripheral gasket carried by said body above the lower portion thereofto form a gas-tight seal between said body and the inner side of thelateral wall of said container below the outlet of said exhaust passage;

a piston-like member made of a material heavier than said liquid movablydisposed in the bore of the exhaust passage of said body with such aclearance that when said container is being filled, gases escaping fromsaid container through the outlet of said exhaust passage only raisesaid piston-like member to a first level, while when said container isfilled liquid flowing through said exhaust passage raises saidpiston-like member to a second level situated above said first level;

and feeler means actuated by said piston-like member when same is raisedto said second level to in turn act on said valve means to cut offliquid flow from said source into said container;

said feeler means being in the form of a downwardly directed pneumaticnozzle disposed above said piston-like member to be obturated by saidmember when same is raised to said second level with said pneumaticnozzle being connected with a relay device to actuate same, and withsaid pneumatic relay device controlling said valve means.

5. A filling head to fill from a source of liquid a substantiallycylindrical container having an open upper end defined by thesubstantially horizontal upper edge of a lateral wall having an innerside and an outer side, with valve means to control liquid flow fromsaid source, said head comprising:

a base to rest on the upper edge of said container;

a body carried by said base to extend downwardly into said container,said body having a lower portion, said body being formed with a fillingconduit having an upper inlet for connection with said source ofliquid-to fill said container and an inner outlet in said lower portion,and said body further being formed with an exhaust passage having aninner inlet in said lower portion, a substantially vertical bore and anouter outlet;

a peripheral gasket carried by said body above the lower portion thereofto form a gas-tight seal between said body and the inner side of thelateral wall of said container below the outlet of said exhaust passage;

a piston-like member made of a material heavier than said liquid movablydisposed in the bore of the exhaust passage of said body with suchaclearance that when said container is being filled, gases escaping fromsaid container through the outlet of said exhaust passage only raisesaid piston-like member to a first level, while when said container isfilled liquid flowing through said exhaust passage raises saidpiston-like member to a second level situated above said first level;

and feeler means actuated by said piston-like member when same is raisedto said second level to in turn act on said valve means to cut offliquid flow from said source into said container;

said valve means comprising a' downwardly directed seat formed in thefilling conduit of said body close to the inner outlet of said conduit,a movable valve member cooperating with said seat to close or to openliquid flow through said conduit with said valve member having anupwardly extending stem, and spring means acting on said stem to urgesaid valve member upwardly against said seat;

and means secured to said body to retain the mar- I ginal portion ofsaid second diaphragm and to form above same a gas-tight chamber toreceive compressed gas for actuation of said valve means downwardlyagainst said spring means.

6. A filling head to fill from a source of liquid a substantiallycylindrical container having an open upper end defined by thesubstantially horizontal upper edge of a lateral wall having an innerside and an outer side, said filling head comprising:.

a base to rest on the upper edge of said container;

3. body carried bysaid base to extend downwardly into saidcontainer,'said body having a lower portion, said body being formed witha filling conduit having an upper inlet for connection with said sourceof liquid to fill said container and an inner outlet in said lowerportion, and said body further being formed with an exhaust passagehaving an inner inlet in said lower portion, a substantially verticalbore and an outer outlet;

valve means in the filling conduit of said body to control liquid flowtherethrough;

means to form a gas-tight seal between said body and the inner side ofthe lateral wall of said container below the outlet of said exhaustpassage;

a piston-like member movably disposed in the bore of the exhaust passageof said body with such a clearance that when said container is beingfilled, gases escaping from said container through the outlet of saidexhaust passage only raise said piston-like member to a first level,while when said container isfilled liquid flowing through said exhaustpassage raises said piston-like member to a second level situated abovesaid first level;

a downwardly directed pneumatic nozzle disposed above said piston-likemember to be obturated by said member when same is raised to its secondlevel with said pneumatic nozzle being connected with a pnaumatic relaysystem to actuate same and with said pneumatic relay system controllingsaid valve means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION v Patent No. 3, 3,97 Dated Anqust 15. 1972 Inventor(s) R ger Remane It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading of the patent between [21] and [52] insert:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Date Feb. 14, 1 969 France.Q...'.69.03679-- Signed and sealed this 12th day of December 1972.

(SEAL) Attsst:

EDWARD 'M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 1 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICEi I9590-355'31 FORM PO-lOSO (10-69)

1. In an automatic unit to control a filling head adapted to be raisedby the container to be filled, with said head having an inflatablegasket adapted to form a seal between said head and said container,normally closed valve means to control the flow of liquid into saidcontainer, and an exhaust passage provided with detecting means todetect the flow of liquid through said passage, means to open said valvemeans when said filling head is raised by said container; means to causeinflation of said gasket a pre-determined time after opening of saidvalve means; and means activated by said detecting means to close saidvalve means when liquid begins to flow through said exhaust passage. 2.A filling head to fill from a source of liquid a substantiallycylindrical container having an open upper end defined by thesubstantially horizontal upper edge of a lateral wall having an innerside and an outer side, with valve means to control liquid flow fromsaid source, said head comprising: a base to rest on the upper edge ofsaid container; a body carried by said base to extend downwardly intosaid container, said body having a lower portion, said body being formedwith a filling conduit having an upper inlet for connection with saidsource of liquid to fill said container and an inner outlet in saidlower portion, and said body further being formed with an exhaustpassage having an inner inlet in said lower portion, a substantiallyvertical bore and an outer outlet; a peripheral gasket carried by saidbody above the lower portion thereof to form a gas-tight seal betweensaid body and the inner side of the lateral wall of said container belowthe outlet of said exhaust passage; a piston-like member made of amaterial heavier than said liquid movably disposed in the bore of theexhaust passage of said body with such a clearance that when saidcontainer is being filled, gases escaping from said container throughthe outlet of said exhaust passage only raise said piston-like member toa first level, while when said container is filled liquid flowingthrough said exhaust passage raises said piston-like member to a secondlevel situated above said first level; and feeler means actuated by saidpiston-like member when same is raised to said second level to in turnact on said valve means to cut off liquid flow from said source intosaid container; said filling head being for use on a filling machineoperating by successive automatic filling cycles, of the kind comprisingan apertured plate to receive the body of the filling head and tosupport the base thereo, a vertically movable support to raise thecontainer to be filled so as to cause the upper edge of same to passaround the body of said filling head, to engage the base thereof and toraise said head from said apertured plate, and vertical columns tovertically guide said filling head; said base including an annular platesupported by said body and non-rotatable thereon, said annular platehaving perforations to slidably receive said guiding columns; saidannular plate carrying a laterally extending resilient blade having afree outer end; and the outer end of said blade supporting a plug to acton a pneumatic feeler nozzle carried by said machine when said fillinghead is raised by said vertically movable support to actuate controlmeans to initiate an automatic filling cycle of said machine.
 3. In afilling head as claimed in claim 2, said body being formed with aperipheral groove to receive said gasket, with said groove having abottom of given diameter; said gasket being formed of a hollowinflatable member having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, withsaid inner diameter being substantially equal to the diameter of thebottom of said groove, and with said inflatable member including aninner space; and said body having an inflating conduit communicatingwith the inner space of said gasket, with said inflating conduit havingan outer inlet through which fluid under pressure may be forced intosaid gasket to expand the outer diameter thereof and to apply saidgasket against the inner side of the lateral wall of said container. 4.A filling head to fill from a source of liquid a substantiallycylindrical container having an open upper end defined by thesubstantially horizontal upper edge of a lateral wall having an innerside and an outer side, with valve means to control liquid flow fromsaid source, said head comprising: a base to rest on the upper edge ofsaid container; a body carried by said base to extend downwardly intosaid container, said body having a lower portion, said body being formedwith a filling conduit having an upper inlet for connection with saidsource of liquid to fill said container and an inner outlet in saidlower portion, and said body further being formed with an exhaustpassage having an inner inlet in said lower portion, a substantiallyvertical bore and an outer outlet; a peripheral gasket carried by saidbody above the lower portion thereof to form a gas-tight seal betweensaid body and the inner side of the lateral wall of said container belowthe outlet of said exhaust passage; a piston-like member made of amaterial heavier than said liquid movably disposed in the bore of theexhaust passage of said body with such a clearance that when saidcontainer is being filled, gases escaping from said container throughthe outlet of said exhaust passage only raise said piston-like member toa first level, while when said container is filled liquid flowingthrough said exhaust passage raises said piston-like member to a secondlevel situated above said first level; and feeler means actuated by saidpiston-like member when same is raised to said second level to in turnact on said valve means to cut off liquid flow from said source intosaid container; said feeler means being in the form of a downwardlydirected pneumatic nozzle disposed above said piston-like member to beobturated by said member when same is raised to said second level withsaid pneumatic nozzle being connected with a relay device to actuatesame, and with said pneumatic relay device controlling said valve means.5. A filling head to fill from a source of liquid a substantiallycylindrical container having an open upper end defined by thesubstantially horizontal upper edge of a lateral wall having an innerside and an outer side, with valve means to control liquid flow fromsaid source, said head comprising: a base to rest on the upper edge ofsaid container; a body carried by said base to extend downwardly intosaid container, said body having a lower portion, said body being formedwith a filling conduit having an upper inlet for connection with saidsource of liquid to fill said container and an inner outlet in saidlower portion, and said body further being formed with an exhaustpassage having an inner inlet in said lower portion, a substantiallyvertical bore and an outer outlet; a peripheral gasket carried by saidbody above the lower portion thereof to form a gas-tight seal betweensaid body and the inner side of the lateral wall of said container belowthe outlet of said exhaust passage; a piston-like member made of amaterial heavier than said liquid movably disposed in the bore of theexhaust passage of said body with such a clearance that when saidcontainer is being filled, gases escaping from said container throughthe outlet of said exhaust passage only raise said piston-like member toa first level, while when said container is filled liquid flowingthrough said exhaust passage raises said piston-like member to a secondlevel situated above said first level; and feeler means actuated by saidpiston-like member when same is raised to said second level to in turnact on said valve means to cut off liquid flow from said source intosaid container; said valve means comprising a downwardly directed seatformed in the filling conduit of said body close to the inner outlet ofsaid conduit, a movable valve member cooperating with said seat to closeor to open liquid flow through said conduit with said valve memberhaving an upwardly extending stem, and spring means acting on said stemto urge said valve member upwardly against said seat; said body havingan upwardly opening bore for passage of said stem; a first substantiallycircular flexible diaphragm having a central portion secured to saidstem and a marginal portion secured to said body to form a seal betweensaid body and said stem, with said stem extending above said firstdiaphragm and terminating into a free end; a second substantiallycircular flexible diaphragm having a central portion and a marginalportion with said central portion being secured to said free end of saidstem; and means secured to said body to retain the marginal portion ofsaid second diaphRagm and to form above same a gas-tight chamber toreceive compressed gas for actuation of said valve means downwardlyagainst said spring means.
 6. A filling head to fill from a source ofliquid a substantially cylindrical container having an open upper enddefined by the substantially horizontal upper edge of a lateral wallhaving an inner side and an outer side, said filling head comprising: abase to rest on the upper edge of said container; a body carried by saidbase to extend downwardly into said container, said body having a lowerportion, said body being formed with a filling conduit having an upperinlet for connection with said source of liquid to fill said containerand an inner outlet in said lower portion, and said body further beingformed with an exhaust passage having an inner inlet in said lowerportion, a substantially vertical bore and an outer outlet; valve meansin the filling conduit of said body to control liquid flow therethrough;means to form a gas-tight seal between said body and the inner side ofthe lateral wall of said container below the outlet of said exhaustpassage; a piston-like member movably disposed in the bore of theexhaust passage of said body with such a clearance that when saidcontainer is being filled, gases escaping from said container throughthe outlet of said exhaust passage only raise said piston-like member toa first level, while when said container is filled liquid flowingthrough said exhaust passage raises said piston-like member to a secondlevel situated above said first level; a downwardly directed pneumaticnozzle disposed above said piston-like member to be obturated by saidmember when same is raised to its second level with said pneumaticnozzle being connected with a pnaumatic relay system to actuate same andwith said pneumatic relay system controlling said valve means.